Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Starlin Castro should be the leadoff hitter for the Chicago Cubs in 2013. At first glance, Castro’s sub par on-base percentage should be a deterrent from having him at the first spot in the batting order for long, but based on the Cubs’ almost non-existent prospects of making it to the postseason, it makes sense in terms of Starlin Castro’s development.

Coaches have commented that they’d like to see Castro become a more patient hitter, and nowhere is that more important than at the leadoff position. The imperative to be patient and see more pitches would be stronger at the top. Most importantly, it gives a young hitter more at-bats than anywhere else in the lineup, as leadoff hitters always get more opportunities to bat than anyone else in the lineup. More at-bats for Castro means more chances to improve his approach, not to mention pad those career run and hit statistics early.

Someone else will probably get the job, probably because Theo Epstein and Dale Sveum are both delusional enough to think that the Chicago Cubs have a shot in 2013 at either winning the division or being the National League wild card. Those of us in the real world know that the chances are extraordinarily slim, and we want to see players like Starlin Castro and Anthony Rizzo get as many chances to hit as possible.

Matt Heckler is a baseball writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @androiddreamer and add him to your network on Google.